I have a working setup (UNRAID v6.12.4 - latest) with an older M5A99FX PRO R2.0 mobo (AM3+ socket) [PDF manual], and I'm trying to replace cache HHDs with NVMe to free up precious real estate in my 4U chassis. When I add PCIe cards for NVMe disks, I'm having a ton of issues, and I'm most after a 4+ NVMe card that boots and recognized all disks.

 

I have 2 cards and both boot fine in a different chassis setup with a different OS, so I know they work but trying to figure out if it's a hardware or software issue.

1. SuperMicro AOC-SHG3-4M2P (full height PCIe 3.0, x8, 4 M.2 disks, $200 new) :: halts boot without any disk
2. Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 (low-profile PCIe 3.0, x8, 2 M.2 disks, $60 new) :: boots OK in this unraid setup but only picks up 1 of 2 disks

 

Page 21 in mobo PDF (1-7) shows I've just tried the bottom slot ("PCIEX16_4") with empty disks and 1 disk at each slot, then 2 disks at each slot combos. I've tried to attach the pic below too.

 

NVMe is very new to me, and I read about bifurcation but don't understand it well. Do these cards need the equivalent of "IT Mode" put on them to boot best or is there a hardware compatibility issue with my mobo?

 

The other 3 cards I have on PCIe are:

1. HBA LSI SAS-9207-8e (PCIe 3.0, x8, IT Mode, $50 used)
2. LSI SAS-9201-8i (PCIe 2.0, x8, IT Mode, $50 used)
3. LSI SAS-9201-8i (PCIe 2.0, x8, IT Mode, $50 used)

 

Edited November 19, 20232 yr by AndersT
screwed up which card boots and which doesn't

4 hours ago, AndersT said:

Supermicro AOC-SLG3-2M2 (PCIe 3.0, x8, 2 M.2 disks, $60 new) :: halts boot without any disk

This one requires PCIe bifurcation which I doubt your board supports.

 

4 hours ago, AndersT said:

SuperMicro AOC-SHG3-4M2P (PCIe 3.0, 4 M.2 disks, $200 new) :: boots OK in this unraid setup but only picks up 1 of 2 disks

This one from what I can see has a PLX chip, so it should work in any board, post diags with this one with two or more NVMe devices installed to see if there's something there.

Thanks, how'd johnnieblack retain your user history with the new forum login requirements?

I'll post Diags tomorrow when kid isn't watching from it.